BGB Foils Sea Trafficking Attempt in Teknaf, Arrests Suspect and Rescues 18 Migrants Bound for Malaysia
The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) has arrested a suspected human trafficker and rescued 18 people attempting to travel illegally to Malaysia by sea in Teknaf, an area known in Rakhine State as Kayu Chaung, according to local authorities.
The interception took place late on the night of December 26, when BGB personnel stopped a boat attempting to cross the Bay of Bengal via the Naf River. The suspect, identified as Mohammad Tarek, was detained along with the group as the vessel departed from the Kayu Chaung area toward Malaysian waters.
A senior officer from BGB Battalion No. 2 in Teknaf said the operation was conducted based on intelligence indicating an imminent maritime smuggling attempt. Among those rescued were four women and six children. Authorities stated that all 18 individuals are Bengali Muslims.
Mohammad Tarek has been transferred to the Teknaf police station for further investigation. Security officials are examining whether he has links to Islamist militant or extremist groups operating in the region, including the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), and Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA).
Human trafficking through maritime routes from Teknaf to Malaysia has remained a persistent problem. In late September, BGB rescued 66 Muslims from Cox’s Bazar refugee camps who were reportedly being prepared for transport to Malaysia after being detained on a hilltop in the Teknaf area.
Security sources say refugees from the Cox’s Bazar camps frequently fall prey to organized trafficking and recruitment networks linked to ARSA, RSO, ARA, and other Islamist extremist groups. Some individuals are also reportedly transferred onward to allied armed actors, including elements connected to the Myanmar military, raising broader regional security concerns.
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